On February 4, 2020 Navrogen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company specialized in developing therapies for cancer and immune-related disorders, and Levena Biopharma, a company specialized in developing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), reported the expanded collaboration to develop ADCs targeting humoral immuno-suppressed cancers (Press release, Navrogen, FEB 4, 2020, View Source [SID1234553828]). ADCs developed under this collaboration combine Levena’s linker and cytotoxic payload chemistry expertise along with Navrogen’s cancer-targeting antibodies discovered using its proprietary Humoral Immuno Oncology (HIO) platform technologies.

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Navrogen’s antibodies are able to specifically target and combat HIO-suppressed cancers that produce factors that dampen antibody-mediated immune-effector activity as well as decrease ADC internalization and subsequent release of their cytotoxic payloads which is required for killing. This collaboration will also include the use of Levena’s process development and GMP capabilities.

"Our collaboration with the exceptional scientists at Levena has enabled us to create a number of ADCs to specifically treat HIO-suppressed cancers," stated Luigi Grasso, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Navrogen. "The expansion of this collaboration will enable us to proceed with their advancement towards clinical trials."

Tong Zhu, Ph.D., Executive Director, Chemistry at Levena commented, "we have employed several of our technologies with the Navrogen team over the past year to identify HIO-refractory ADC formats. We look forward to continue supporting their development plans that can benefit from our expertise and technologies."